Abogados

Hispanic Market Product Placement for 2005 / 2006

Daddy Yankee's "Barrio Fino" became the first reggaeton album to debut at No. 1 on the Billboard Top Latin Albums chart. As a movement, reggaeton has been bubbling under the surface for at least 10 years in Puerto Rico. There, artists have been recording and selling their albums independently, with little radio or media support until last year.

But during the past 12 months, the genre -- a blend of dancehall, tropical and hip-hop elements -- has single-handedly shaken up radio in the United States, reinvigorated sales of Latin music and crossed over into the mainstream. In addition, labels across the board are vying to sign and develop new talent, anticipating even further growth for the genre.

That growth has accelerated exponentially as the radio landscape changes, with 17 U.S. stations -- including former English-language outlets -- having switched to rhythmic Latin formats with reggaeton-dominated playlists. During the past six months, in any given week, three to five of the top 10 titles on the Billboard Top Latin Albums chart have been reggaeton.